Gemma Atkinson’s acting and modelling work have taken her on adventures all over the world. But since joining the cast of Emmerdale 18 months ago, there’s little that can match the delight of being back in her home town with her family and friends close by.

Gemma’s mum and sister live nearby and she’s able to get home every night and spend time with her precious dogs, cocker spaniel Ollie and spaniel-poodle cross Norman.

“Emmerdale is a really good place to work. Everyone is really lovely, we regularly get together outside work and it’s on my doorstep,” says Gemma, who lives in a village just outside her home town of Bury.

f I meet someone, then great, but I’m not looking

Gemma Atkinson

“And to be able to go home at the end of the day makes such a difference.”

Another reason for Gemma’s joy is her latest storyline, which sees a potential romance between her character, childminder Carly Hope, and chef Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock).

Carly looks after Marlon’s daughter April and their friendship has grown closer since Carly confided in him that she lost a baby to sudden infant death syndrome. On the day of what would have been Carly’s son’s birthday, their relationship deepens.

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“Carly is feeling really down and upset and Marlon tries to cheer her up,” explains Gemma. “He goes to kiss her, then pulls away and says, ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.’ Then Carly says, ‘No, you can do it!’

“They spend the night together, but the following day Marlon is riddled with guilt, thinking he has taken advantage of her. There’s a real awkwardness between them and that’s what it’s like for a good few weeks afterwards. They’re falling in love, but they’re both worrying about ruining their friendship.”

So will they make a go of it or are they doomed to remain just good friends?

“We’re pushing for them to get together,” Gemma smiles. “Initially, I was told Carly was going to get together with Marlon, Pete Barton or Andy Sugden and I said ‘Marlon’ straight away because it’s more unexpected.

I think at the stage that Carly is at, she’s not just after a hunky, muscly guy who is Mr Popular. She’s had all that and it hasn’t worked.”Instead, Gemma’s character is after a kind and stable man.

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“Mark and I said to the producer that we wanted it to be a really sweet love story and a nice journey,” says Gemma. “The audience are hopefully going to watch it and say to Marlon, ‘Just kiss her! Just sweep her off her feet!’ I hope it will be a happy ending.”

But while Carly may be on the verge of romance, Gemma is single, having recently parted from her boyfriend of two years, personal trainer Olly Foster.

“Nothing bad happened and it’s amicable, but some people get on better as friends and that’s what we became in the end,” she explains.

So for the time being, Gemma is quite happy on her own. The actress, who briefly dated footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and who was previously engaged to footballer Marcus Bent and Britain’s Got Talent martial arts star Liam Richards, adds:

“I’ve always gone from one relationship to another, so I feel I want to spend some time on my own. I’m actually finding it quite therapeutic – doing my yoga, walking the dogs, seeing the girls and working.

“If I meet someone, then great, but I’m not looking. I get people saying, ‘You’re 31 – don’t you want to settle down?’ And I say, ‘No, not really.’”

Gemma’s acting career began at 15 in Hollyoaks. The part launched a successful career as a glamour model and she also appeared in 2007’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! before returning to acting in Casualty in 2011.

Sporty and adventurous by nature, Gemma’s long-term ambition is to host wildlife documentaries and she rarely turns down a challenge – she has appeared in Jack Osbourne’s show Adrenaline Junkie and has also walked the Great Wall Of China for charity.

“My mum said, ‘You’re 23, I don’t want you to go to China on your own,’” she says. “And when I did Adrenaline Junkie, I had to ring her to let her know I was alive! After every bungee jump, shark dive or skydive, I had to check in with her.

“I’m laid back, so she does the worrying for me. But she’s so pleased that I’m now in Emmerdale and back at home and settled!”